Generalized Hankel matrices of Markov parameters and their applications to control problems (Q799762)

For an arbitrary matrix of order m and a Hessenberg matrix of order \(n\leq m\) a family of symmetric matrices is constructed. One shows that they generalize the Hankel matrix of Markov parameters associated with a proper rational function. By using the constructed matrices in different manner one develops methods for testing the relative primeness of two matrices, for determining inertia and stability of a matrix (here an interesting conjecture regarding the eigenvalues separation in regions of the complex plane is formulated) and to solve a problem which is very closely related to the pole assignment problem in control theory. These methods do not require explicit computation of the characteristic polynomials. In an appendix some system theoretic interpretations involving the minimal realization of a strictly proper rational function are given.